Hot-Air Balloon Festival: Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival commenced

The opening ceremony of Taunggyi Tazaungdaing hot-air balloon festival (2023) commenced in grandeur at Ahwaiyar hot-air balloon ground in Taunggyi Township of Shan State (South) on 21st November in the presence of Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Zaw Aye.

First, the Chief Minister and wife together with Chief Justice of the State High Court and wife, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Command and wife, State Ministers, State Advocate General, State Government Secretary, State, District, and Township level departmental and other concerned officials offered flowers, water and oil lights to the Lawka Chan Thar Sulamuni Pagoda and launched Sein Na Pan hot-air balloon.

And, the Chief Minister and party enjoyed the modern songs performed by Shan ethnic singers with the accompaniment of the modern music band. This was followed by cutting the ceremonial ribbon to inaugurate the 2023 Taunggyi Tazaungdaing hot-air balloon festival.  

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that celebrating Tazaungdaing Festival annually without losing its cultural tradition intends to promote the cultural values of traditional festival of the several Shan ethnicities living in the State. Besides Kathina robe offering ceremony, the Tazaungdaing features a series of events such as non-stale robe weaving, Mezali bud salad making and hot-air balloon releasing.

The year 2023 is the 71st celebration of Tazaungdaing festival held in Taunggyi Township after suspension in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.  He reiterated that 2023 Tazaungdaing festival is set to be taken place for 7 days from 21st to 27th November, followed by the Padetha Pin conveyance, competitions of non-stale robe weaving, daytime, night-time and Sein Na Pan hot-air balloons releasing.

Then, the Chief Minister encouraged all festive comers to celebrate and enjoy the festival with brotherhood spirit peacefully and joyously. Then, the patron of Tazaungdaing Festival Celebration Organizing Committee and the Chief Minister pressed the button to inaugurate the festival, releasing 2 Sein Na Pan hot-air balloons, 50 medium hot-air balloons by the ethnic troupes, 300 small hot-air balloons by the students, and 2,000 small hot-air balloons by the audience.

After the fireworks display, the entertainment programs followed with the performances and dances of ethnic cultural dance troupes, ethnic singers and the dance troupes from Education Degree College.